Friday, October 29, 2010

I really can't complain about the whole teething process- at least this time around. We had a few rough naps and a diaper rash (it really happens peeps- I didn't believe it either)! But other than that she was a perfect little peach. A very happy baby.

While trying to get a photo of the actual teeth, I got a lot of hilarious shots of NOT teeth.

Take a gander.

These two below are probably my favorite. HAHA.

If she smiles just right, you see the tip of those two little white things. I can't imagine her with teeth... crazy.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Since before I was born he wore a light blue shirt and dark blue pants to work everyday, six days a week all year long, short sleeves in the summer and long sleeves in the winter.

A pair of pliers hung from the right side of his belt . My sisters and I would wrestle him and try to snatch them. He threatened to pull our teeth with those pliers.

He'd take a 10 minute nap over lunch, lying flat on his back, half of his body on the dining room carpet and his dirty boots on the kitchen floor, those big brown leather boots, with his blue suit. A light blue shirt and dark blue pants.

I could spot my dad driving a tractor from miles away because of that blue uniform. My Grandad and uncle Mike wore brown uniforms and my Dad and uncle Roger wore blue. Sometimes I'd think Roger was my dad. They looked a lot alike from far away in their blue suits.

{Me with my dad in his blue uniform, 3 months old- July, 1985}

My Dad would come to all of my volleyball games during harvest. I don't think he missed a single one. He'd come in straight from the field in his blue suit. I'd see him come in before the game started with his brown leather boots and pliers hanging from his belt. Sometimes he'd be covered in dirt or oil. He'd come, he'd watch and he go straight back out to the field.

He'd come to my track meets too, even if they were planting. I could spot him from across the track because of that light blue shirt and dark blue pants.

He kept a little notepad and pen in his front shirt pocket. He'd scratch his ear with the pen. I always wondered what he wrote in that notepad. In fact, I'm still wondering.

As a little girl, I never knew where the blue suit came from, I just knew that it was there. Apparently it came from a uniform company that would pick up dirty uniforms and send out clean ones in return. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me.

Recently the uniform company raised its rates and Dudley Farms Inc. decided it was no longer worth the money.

The blue uniform was no more.

My mom always hated my dad's blue suit so she was happy to see it go. She thought it made him look like a gas station attendant. Albeit it looked similar but it lacked the predictably placed name badge above the right breast.

I, on the other hand, was sad. My dad's blue uniform was a constant to me, something I could count on. The blue suit is peppered throughout my baby book and my memories and I thought it'd be the same for Ruby.

Ruby will never know my dad in the blue suit.

In collage I took a large format photography class. I shot primarily with a 4x5 view camera. I decided to do a shoot with Dad in the field as an environmental portrait. I couldn't decide if I wanted to do black and white or color film so I did both. I am SO glad I did! These are still some of my favorites. I love the front panel tilt that makes the field and his legs out of focus, I love the red rag in his pocket and the sharpness of his eyes, I love the dirt on his forehead and left shoulder.

I love these even more because this is how I'll always remember him...

I'm not taking my "stay at home mom" status for granted- not in the least.

OK, so technically I'm more of a "work at home mom" but so far, the Lord has been extremely gracious and allowed me to do both.

I'm not sure if I'll ever be willing to give it up.

Some days I like to slow it down. We go on long leisurely walks to the post office, we lay in bed together while she touches my face, we sit on the back patio and watch Izzy run circles and laugh. She changes so fast and she won't do these things for much longer. I better soak them up while I can.

Most days Ruby does NOT wear a bow. When we are home she is in a onsie or sleeper most of the day. She's comfy, with no headband. We won't discuss my wardrobe.

That's why I adore these photos. She's not all dolled up, she isn't wearing a bow or a dress. This is the real Ruby. The one I get to spend my everyday with. Aren't I lucky?

My Website!

My Photography Blog

In My Little World

Twitter Updates

About Me

iving in Champaign, Illinois with my husband, our beautiful daughter Ruby Evangeline and a crazy poodle named Izzy.
During my time as a photography student at Southern Illinois University, my professors instilled in me a desire to settle for nothing less than perfection in every photograph. With that desire in hand, I am now pursuing my dream to become a portrait photographer.
I love to layer texture and pattern in my photographs while maintaining the integrity, personality and natural beauty of my subject.
The Lord has blessed me beyond belief and I love to make all things in life beautiful.